I have just witnessed something that would remain with me forever, Fire has just swept through the haitian village of the Mudd in Abaco leaving hundreds of haitians homeless and taking the life of one. In my estimation it did not had to be so drastic but maybe we'll talk about that later. The issue now is what will be done with all of those displaced men, women and children. Some tried their best, with the assistance of bahamians like myself, to salvage as much of whatever they could have gotten and even that was a challenge with the makeup of the area. When the smoke is all cleared the Government of the Bahamas would be faced with yet another challenge of finding housing for displaced persons. I know some might say just send them back home, easier said than done, because for many of them they have never been to Haiti. I assisted a young man tonite and in speaking with him he was quite upset because he heard those remarks coming from within the onlookers, his reply was "i'm 29 and ine never been to Haiti in my life, das where my people from but i born here" he appeared to be really hurt and I can assure you that there are many more in his situation. The task of sheltering, clothing and feeding these people is going to be a mammoth one and irregardless of their legal status it will be our responsibility to deal with it. Again the illegal migrant problem and in particularly the Haitian situation has presented the government with the question of "how are we gonna deal with it".

Sad situation.

Whoever has their papers, the government should provide assistance for. Anyone else (illegal) send them back. As tragic as that situation is, I believe the government needs to bull doze those communites. They simply act as havens for illegal immigrants and other illegal activities. The governent needs to filter out those that are in this country undocumented.

While you are correct concerning illegal activities, we are dealing with a very sensitive issue, international organisation and human rights entities would not just let any government bull doze thousands of persons homes leaving them homeless, we are dealing with many persons without status that are not even entitled to be sent to Haiti, I think legal ramifications would prevent us from just sending them back, at least sending the majority of them back.

While you are correct concerning illegal activities, we are dealing with a very sensitive issue, international organisation and human rights entities would not just let any government bull doze thousands of persons homes leaving them homeless, we are dealing with many persons without status that are not even entitled to be sent to Haiti, I think legal ramifications would prevent us from just sending them back, at least sending the majority of them back.


If they are in this country ilegally, how does the government not have the right to send them back. They are in violation of the laws of the Bahamas, the government would have every right.

What about the hundreds or maybe even thousands that are legally stateless?

While you are correct concerning illegal activities, we are dealing with a very sensitive issue, international organisation and human rights entities would not just let any government bull doze thousands of persons homes leaving them homeless, we are dealing with many persons without status that are not even entitled to be sent to Haiti, I think legal ramifications would prevent us from just sending them back, at least sending the majority of them back.

well, i think even apart what ngos and other govt's would say, we should be this into who are too young to apply for bahamian citizenship? where are we going to send them 'back' to? im not sure whether they would be 'stateless' in the real definition of the word, since haiti is in fact in existence, but whether or not they would even have haitian passports is another thing. i dont know. in any event, this is why we need to revise our immigration laws. its unfair to send people to a country which is torn by gang violence and political persecution and flagrant human rights abuses, particulary when they do not come from that kind of environment. its like releasing a a domestic animal into its natural habitat after years of living in a seafety net.

im not sure whether they would be 'stateless' in the real definition of the word, since haiti is in fact in existence, but whether or not they would even have haitian passports is another thing. i dont know. in any event, this is why we need to revise our immigration laws. its unfair to send people to a country which is torn by gang violence and political persecution and flagrant human rights abuses, particulary when they do not come from that kind of environment. its like releasing a a domestic animal into its natural habitat after years of living in a seafety net.

According to the Haitian ambassador there is no such thing as a "stateless" immigrant to this country. Haitians do not like to go to their embassy here to get their Haitian passports; they want a Bahamian passport, not a Haitian one. (And our government is telling us that the majority of these people do not want to say. Dey really t'ink Bahamians fool nah.)

There is a naturalization procedure which needs to be done as soon as possible for those who are older than eighteen years old and have been here all their lives. Indeed it would be unfair to send those persons back. As for everyone else, Bahamian law should be followed.

Now this is going beyond the call of duty, but perhaps the solution is the Bahamian government working with the Haitian government and the UN forces to cordon off an area in Haiti where those who are sent back from the Bahamas can work and live in relatively safety - the same way that they do here. Work for them can be building houses, farming and the overall improvement of that "town". The initial cost can be shared between the Bahamian and Haitian governments, but it could be considered a long term solution to keeping these persons in Haiti. Plus, as Haiti stabilizes, the people of that town will be skilled workers who can be used to help rebuild other parts of Haiti. The entire process can be self-sustaining and would give those persons a chance at a sensible life. It would be a "Lil Bahamas" in Haiti and exports from the farming can be brought here to the Bahamas.

If all they want is stability, then give it to them, in Haiti.

I stand to be corrected and would to be if I am wrong, my understanding from the laws is that those persons born in the Bahamas after 1973 but have not attain Bahamian citizenship and cannot because the regulatory time has passed, that is pass 18 yrs old, if sent back to Haiti the Haitian government do not have to give them citizenship. Thus these persons are considered stateless. As for the children I assume they would have to go where their parents go.

Based on an exerpt of the Hatian Constitution that was circulated by email awhile back....any person born of Hatian parents any where in the world is considered Hatian. Based on that, they aint stateless, they just dont want the State they gat. :dgi: (Mind you, I dont know how accurate that email was)

Based on an exerpt of the Hatian Constitution that was circulated by email awhile back....any person born of Hatian parents any where in the world is considered Hatian. Based on that, they aint stateless, they just dont want the State they gat. :dgi: (Mind you, I dont know how accurate that email was)

the issue of statelessness can arise in the following situations:
-political change
-targeted discrimination, often due to race or ethnicity
-differences in the laws between countries
-transfer of territory
-law relating to marriage and birth registration
-expulsion of people from a territory
-nationality based solely on descent, often only that of father
-renunciation of nationality (without prior acquisition of another nationality)
-working conditions
-abandonment
-lack of financial ability to register children

whats very strange, and i never noticed before, neither Haiti nor the Bahamas have becoming contracting parties to the relevant international provision - the 1954 Convention relating to the status of Stateless Persons :biggie: ...does anyone know what happens to haitian/ther children born in bahamas to no bahamian parents? what is their legal status (ie: non-national resident, foreign, etc?) or are they simply 'illegal'? very interesting predicament.

...does anyone know what happens to haitian/ther children born in bahamas to no bahamian parents? what is their legal status (ie: non-national resident, foreign, etc?) or are they simply 'illegal'?

The Haitian ambassador said that they are fully welcome to go to the Haitian embassy here in Nassau and pick up their Haitian passport.

Upon the age of eighteen, they can then apply for citizenship here in The Bahamas.

So until they apply for Bahamian citizenship at 18, their official status is Haitian. But like I mentioned before and heard the Haitian ambassador say on an interview on Island FM months ago, Haitians here do not want a Haitian passport. They are the ones who prefer to remain "stateless".

The Haitian ambassador said that they are fully welcome to go to the Haitian embassy here in Nassau and pick up their Haitian passport.

Upon the age of eighteen, they can then apply for citizenship here in The Bahamas.

So until they apply for Bahamian citizenship at 18, their official status is Haitian. But like I mentioned before and heard the Haitian ambassador say on an interview on Island FM months ago, Haitians here do not want a Haitian passport. They are the ones who prefer to remain "stateless".

...and lets say, they acquire their haitian passports (i'm talking only about the haitian children born in bahamas), what is their status then? are they given leave to remain in the country, or are they too liable to be 'sent back'?

...and lets say, they acquire their haitian passports (i'm talking only about the haitian children born in bahamas), what is their status then? are they given leave to remain in the country, or are they too liable to be 'sent back'?

Their status would still be Haitian, but they are not at risk of being deported if their parents are in legal possession of work permits. Those children would be considered dependents of the legal holder of a work permit. They then can get free education and healthcare with no problems - this is assured by the laws of our country.

If the parents are here and not in possession of work permits, then everyone in that family is liable to be sent back to Haiti when caught.

Now if the parents are given citizenship, the kids are given the same priviledge automatically.

While you are correct concerning illegal activities, we are dealing with a very sensitive issue, international organisation and human rights entities would not just let any government bull doze thousands of persons homes leaving them homeless, we are dealing with many persons without status that are not even entitled to be sent to Haiti, I think legal ramifications would prevent us from just sending them back, at least sending the majority of them back.


The law is supreme not any "international organization and human rights entities" they have their own agenda and must the Government of the Bahamas being the Bahamian people and the law which takes into consideration human rights.

I am very sorry for thoes who have lost everything, but I am sure most of them came to the Bahamas with nothing. If they are not leagle to stay :cop: , then send them back. Kids or no kids. Im sure they will survive. As for the leagle ones, give them as much help as possible.:cop: